How u describe the first the got in contact with a patient?

I've been at this for so long I can't remember my first contact!

I don't remember much of mine either. I do remember that she was kinda wierd. I remember my instructer saying to her to wear socks in the hall because she was walking in bare feet (gross). Patient contact gets easier each time. I too turn as red as a tomato all the time. I could just be too warm or nervous whatever. Just remember they are all the same as you and I. They are all human and make mistakes and put their pants on one leg at a time. The more you engage in patient care the more comfortable you will become. Maybe try getting a job as a nurse aide or dietary delivering pt meals. It will give you more contact with patients and you will become more comfortable.

my first patient was a 21 year old male with full blown AIDS that didn't even go from HIV+ to AIDS but was diagnosed the first time with AIDS. very sad. luckily i had a partner the very first clinical and she was a chatterbox and older so very comfortable talking to patients. i got off easy... i let her do all the talking!

My first patient contact was a lady who was 100 years old et she liked to tell stories et she always lied about her age. It was always about 20 years or so younger than she was really--typical woman I guess? Just kidding. But she loved to talk so it made it really easy. I was still so nervous about it though. It gets easier every time. Good luck!!

Our school had us practice this with professional medical actors before we met our first patient. We were given a situation that our *patient* was in and we had to interview them. The actors were specially trained for this, and they video-taped us and then gave us our grade.

It really was a huge help. If your school doesn't offer this, you could always practice with fellow students.